Apparatus for manufacturing concrete blocks and the like



Aug. 10 1926. 1,595,494

J. M. BARNETT APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CONCRETE BLOCKS AND THE LIKEFiled Sept. 10, 1924 26 I NVENTOR v .l

n stares JESSE .lVZ. BARNETT O1? RUILKINSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA.

-APPARATUSFOR MANUFACTURING GGNCRETE BLOCKS AND THE LIKE.

"Application filed'se'ptember 10,1924. Serial No."736,333.

Generally speaking my invention comprises improvements 'inmovable coresby means ofwhich the internal 'cavities of the concrete blocksor otherunits are formed.

Such cores are extended into the mold cavity or cavities before theconcrete is poured, and then, after the concrete has -set,the cores areretracted before the blocks are removed'from-the mold.

In the case of multiple molds wherein a the mold cavities, and in'theaccompanying draedngsforthe sake of 'clearness of disclosure I'haveillustrated the principles of my present invention applied to such amultiple mold.

In the present practice where a plurality of cores are extended andretracted in uni son, or by meansof some operative mechanism,'thefailure of :one 'ormore of the cores to properly respond to theactuations of the operative mechanismprevents the proper extension andseating of the remaining cores. Thus the presence of particles ofconcrete. pebbles or thelike may prevent one of the cores'from assumingits proper position, and the remaining cores likewise 'fail to properlyseat, thus frequently resulting in the malforn'iation of the concreteblocks or in the escape by leakageof a portion of the liquid concrete.

Therefore I provide novel means whereby the failure of one or moreof thecores to properly seat or assume its extended position is preventedfromafiecting the operation of the remaining'cores.

in the preferred form of thisfeatureof my invention the connectionbetween the cores and their operative mechanism is of a resilientcharacter.

I also provide novel means whereby the cores in their extension movementare properly guided into=position, thereby preventing such angulardisplacement of thecores which mightresult in their sticking or binding.

"Other-novel features of construction and also of arrangement of vpartswill appear from the following description.

Inthe accompanying drawings, wherein as already explained, theprinciples of my invention are illustrated as applied to a. multiplemold, Fig. 1 is a broken longitudinal and vertical section of a multiple,moldto whose cores my invention is shown applied; Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical section of one of the cores; Fig. 3 is a detail on enlargedsection taken at rightangles to that of'Fig. 2-and showing-the wrist-pinconnectionbe tween the core and its pitman; Fig. 4 is .a furtherenlarged detail of the same, and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showingthe method of limiting the angularity of a core relative to itsoperative means.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings.

.A representsthe multiplemold platform which is provided with a fio'orB. 1 represents one of the end walls of the multiple mold, 2 one of thetransverse partitions, and 3 one of the longitudinal partitions.'Id'onotshow or describe the construction of'themultiplemold in detail,as the same does not form in itself part of the, present invention.

However, it will be understood that by means of the end walls andthelongitudinal and transverse partitions a multiplicity of moldcavities are formed, the partitions being of the take-down type so as tobe as sembled for pouring and removed after the concrete blocks are-set.

The floor B is provided with aplurality of apertures 4 which arepreferably arranged inlongit-udinal rows and are individually positionedso as to occurat the pro er places in the bottom of the several mo dcavities when the partitions are assembled asshown in Fig. 1. Crepresents the movablecores, one for each aperture 4 andwhicharepreferablycast or otherwise formed of suitable metal, such asaluminum.

The cores aremade hollow to save .weight and cost. of metal, and also tofacilitate their attachment to their operative mechanism.

'Sa-id cores. are preferably of rectangular cross section asthe'internalcavities of the concrete blocks are usually rectangular. However, thecores may be of any cross sectional shape, depending on the shape of thecavities to be formed in the bloclrs.

The cores are preferably tapered or contracted towards their upper endor their ends first inserted through the apertures. Thus their propercentering in the mold cavities also their withdrawal from the saidconcrete in the blocks are facilitated.

The walls of the core aper .res l are of proper taper to fit the taperof the cores, and the apertures are of p. to fit snugly around the basesof the cores. The bases of the cores are preferably provided withaperinietral lip 5 which fits against the underside of the floor B. Iprefer to place a compressible gasket on the lip 5, which whencompressed between the lip and the floor forms a water tight joint andthus prevents leakage from the mold cavity.

In the einbooiinent shown "he cores extended upwardly and 1'6tltt"ttldownwardly in unison.

I have shown the cores er: tracted by means of cranr; shaits. this asthe most satisfactory inethd crating the cores, but it will be u t thatany suitable op rative mechanism may be provided for that purpose.

It is evident that if the cores are positively connected to the era 1;shafts or other operative mechanism, their extension and retraction willnot only be ,siinult to the same degree. Thus in case particles ofconcrete, pebbles or the like happen to 0bstruc-t the extension of oneof the cores the extension of the remaining cores will likewise beprevented or breakage will result. I therefore provide a new andimproved connection between the o ierative mechanism and the individualcores, so that the obstruction of one of the cores which prevents itsproper seating or extension will not affeet the proper seating orextension of the remaining cores.

In the embodiment shown such means have resilient characteristic wherebythe resistance of a core to properly seat in its extended position istaken up by resilient compression between said core and its operativeniccl'ianisin. This resilient characteristic also provides for theelastic compression of the gasket, thus aids in insuring a water tightjoint.

Thus in the drawings l have shown the connecting rods 7 pivotallymounted on the cranks 8 of the crank shaft D, whose ends are shown e'tending through a bearing hole 9 in the end member 10 of the platforn A.The shaft is properly journaled in bearings 11 carried by the crossbeams 12 of the platform. The other ends of the connecting rods 7 areinserted into sockets 13 in the ends of the pitinen E and are heldrigidly in place therein as by set screws 14. The other ends of thepitinen E are provided with transversely disposed cylindrical heads 15havaxially disposed trunnions 16 on their end The trunnions 16 arejournaled and slidable in the opposed slotted bearings 17 in the legs ofthe yol ie member i The yoke nieinber F is pro 'ided with a threadedstem 18 which is screwed into the threaded hole 19 in the center of thehead of the core m G represents a bearing plate slidably U- nounted onthe stem 18, and 20 represents a elical sprii coiled about the stembetween the head of the core G and the plate G, thus resilientlyseparating the same. a

21 represents pins slidably mounted in longitudinal bearing holes 22 ofthe yoke F, and which have their inner ends seated and preferably ratedas by welding in the sockets in the face of the plate G. The other endsof s d pins are provided with arcuate feet ch ride on the trunnions 16.is thus evident that as the crank shaft moves the cores into theirextended position, the r oving force is transmitted to a core, throughthe connecting rod 7, the pitnien E, trunnions 16, the pins 21, theplate G and the spring 20 to the cor Thus when the core seats the gasket6 is resiliently compressed between the lip 5 and the floor 13, thusinsuring a water tight joint between the core and the floor of the moldcavity. In case a pebble, as shown at 25 in Fig. 1, or otherobstruction, is lodged between the lip and the floor so as to preventthe core prope y seating in the aperture, such obstruction or prematurestoppage of one of the cores, as for instance the right hand core in 1,does not interfere witn the proper ezring cores. Vlhcn the cores areretracted the trunnions 16 engage the lower ends of the slotted bearings1?, and thus retract the cores.

It is evident that by the use of my invention, only the improperentension or seating of the core which happens to be obstructed wouldresult, so that leakage of concrete or malformation of the block wouldbe confined to that particular core. 7

lVhen the cores are being extended, owing to the angularity r suined bythe pitnien the cores are liable to be tippedout of the vertical, andmay in some cases bind or stick in the apertures before they arecompletely extended or seated unless some to control the tippingtendency of the cores is provided.

l provioe against the assumption of exangularity on the part of thecores by PFOYlt-Allg set screws 28 which are screwed laterally. into the:pitmen near their inner ends "and whose projecting hea'ds' contact withtheinterior walls of the core to limit the tipping of the latter. Asasuitable abutment against which the heads of said set screws may strike,I have shown ribs 27 formed in the interior otthe'core. Projectionsor'abutments oilnny hind may of course be provided for this purpose; forthe set-screws be of greater length so as to directly engage theinterior'wallsiof the core. The set screwsmay be adjusted'to' limit thetipping-o1 the core to any desired degree.

Theimetho'd which I show for connecting the cores to the operativemechanism, such as'the crank shaft shown, is novel and highlyadvantageous. The pointoi connection is atthe head ot'thecore,-so-thatwhen the core is retractedorwithdrawn from the setconcrete the pull is appliedat the upper end of the core and thus thecore'is disengaged more easily than it the attachment wasr'at the lowerendof the core or intermediate of its length.

'It will be noted that, while the'seatin g or the cores in'theirextendedi'positions is resiliently eli'ected through the springs 20, theretraction'oi the cor'esis positive, thus iniring' theiruniiormwithdrawal.

1. 'In'a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of theniold cavity priwid'e'd with a suitab'leaperture, ofa movable-core, operativemechani sin for extending said core through theaperture into the cavityand for retracting the sametherefrom, and meansfortaking up the force of said operative 'meanswhen the core abnormallyresists assuming its extended: position.

2. In a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, theC0111bl11fll1l011"Wltl1 thewall oi the "mold cavity provided' with asuitable aperture, of a movable core, operative mechanism :tor extendingsaid core through the aperture into the cavity *and for retracting thesame therefromjanda resilient lost-motion connection between theoperative means and'the core torthe-purp'ose described.

3.111 a mold for casting"concreteblocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of" the mold cavity provided with a suitable aperture, ofa" movable core, operative'me'cha- IliSlll' for extending said icorethrough the aperture into the cavity and for retracting the sametherefrom, and connection between said operativemechanism" and saidcore, said connection including resilient meanstor assuming the force ofsaid operative'means in case the core' abnormally re'si'sts'properextension.

"1.1111 a mold 'tor'casting concrete blocks and the like, the.combinationwith the wall of the mold cavity provided'with a suitable=aperture,"'of a movable core adapted tohe extended through the*apertureinto' the mold cavity and to be retracted downwardly there fromto strip the core from "the formed block, said core having a portionwhich when the core "is extended engages sai'd'wall to form "a joint atsaid aperture, operative mechanism forextcnding and retracting saidcore, and "means for exerting spring com-' pression on saidjoint,when'the core is extended, to prevent leakage.

"5.In ainold for casting concretebloeks and' the like, the combinationwith the wall of the mold cavity provided with a suitable aperture, of a"movable core adapted to 'be extenclea' through the aperture into themold cavity and to be ret'acted therefrom, said core h avin'g 'aportioir'which when the core is extended engages said 'wall to form'ajoint at said aperture, a compressible gasket interposed in said joint,operative "means-"for extending and retracting said core, and means forexerting spring-"compression 'on said'joint, when the core is extended,to prevent leakage.

'6. In a mold'for casting "conc'reteblocks and the like, thecombin'ationwith thewall of the mold cavity provided with a suitable aperture, of amovable core adapted "tob'e extended throug'hthe a ertureinto the'mo'ldcavity and to be retracted therefrom, a crank shaft, andconnectingrod=mechanism coupling the core to said'crank' shaftfsaidmechanism including springnnea ns torresiliently seating the core in itsext'ended position. a

7.In a mold for casting"concreteblocks and the" like, the combinationwith the "wall of the moldcavity provided with asuita'ble aperture, ofamovable core adapted to be extended through theap'erture into the moldcavity and to be retracted therefrom, aor'arik shaft, connecting rodmechanism coupling the core to the crank shaft, and springmeansinterposed in said connection whereby the torce'ofthe' crankshaft istaken up when the coreabnorma'lly resistsseating in it's extendedposition.

'8. In amold' for casting' concrete -bl'oc-ks and the like," thecombination with the wall of the 'mold' cavity" provided with a"=suitable aperture, ota movable 'core adapted to be extended through theaperture into the cavity and to be withdrawntherefrom, 'a crank shaft,connecting red Pm'ec'hanism coupling the core to'the crank 'sha'ttf-andmeans for limitin g the angularity of the core to p'revent its'bindingin'the aperture during its extension movement.

- 92in a mold forca'sting concrete blocks and the like, the combination"with the wall of the mold cavityi'provid'ed "with a suitable aperture,of a movablecore 'adapted -to-be extended through iSttiCl' aperture-'into :the cavity 'and to be retracted therefrom, said core beinghollow with a closed head, a crank shaft, and connectin rod mechanismcoupling the core to the crank shaft, said connectingrod mechanism beingconnected to the head of the core.

10. In a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of the mold cavity provided with a suitable aperture, of amovable core adapted to be extended through said aperture into thecavity and to be retracted therefrom, said core being hollow with aclosed head, a crank shaft, and connecting rod mechanism coupling thecore to the crank shaft, said connecting rod mechanism extending intothe interior of the core and being connected to the head thereof.

11. In a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of the mold provided with a plurality of suitableapertures, of a movable core for each aperture and adapted to beextended through the aperture into the mold and to be retractedtherefrom, common operative means for all of said cores, and individualconnections between each core and said opperative means, such comections includin resilient means for assuming the force of saidoperative means in case a core abnormally resists proper extension.

12. In a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of the mold provided with a plurality of suitableapertures, of a movable core for each aperture and adapted to beextended through the aperture into the mold or to be retractedtherefrom, common operative means for all of said cores, means for coupling said cores to said operative means, and means whereby the coresare individually seated in their extended position, regardless of theproper seating of the remaining cores.

13. In a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of the mold provided with a plurality of suitableapertures, of a movable core for each aperture and adapted to beextended through the aperture into the mold or to be retractedtherefrom, common operative means for all of said cores, and individualconnections between each of said cor-cs and said operative means, saidconnections in cluding resilient means for assuming the force of saidoperative means in case a core abnormally resists proper seating in itsextended position, thereby preventing interference with the properseating of the other cores.

14. In a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of the mold provided with a plurality of suitableapertures, of a movable core for each aperture and adapted to beextended through the aperture into the mold and to be retractedtherefrom, a crank shaft, and a connecting rod mechanism coupling eachof said cores to the crank shaft, said connecting rod mechanismincluding means for assuming the power of the crank shaft when a coreabnormally resists seating in its extended position.

15, In a mold for casting concreteblocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of the mold provided with suitable apertures, of a movablecore for each aperture and adapted to be extended through the apertureinto the mold and to be retracted therefrom, a crank shaft, a connectingrod mechanism coupling each of said cores to the crankshaft, andresilient connection between each connecting rod mechanism and itsassociated core, whereby when a core abnormally resists seating in itsproper extended position the power of the crank shaft will be assumedwithout affecting the seat,

mechanism couplingeeach of said cores to the crank shaft, and springmeans cushioning the application of extension movement by the individualconnecting rod mechanism to the corresponding cores.

ii. In a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of the mold provided with suitable apertures, of a movablecore for each aperture and adapted to be extended through the apertureinto the mold and to be retracted therefrom, a crank shaft, a connectingrod mechanism coupling each of said cores to the crank shaft, and meansinterposed between the individual connecting rod mechanisms and thecorresponding core whereby the extension movement of the connecting rodis resiliently transmitted to the core.

18. In a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall f the mold provided with suitable apertures, of a movablecore for each aperture and adapted to be extended through the apertureinto the mold and to be retracted therefom, a crank shaft, a connectingrod mechanism coupling each of said cores to the crankshaft, and meansinterposed be tween the individual connecting rod mechanism and thecorresponding core whereby the extension movement of the connecting rodis resiliently transmitted to the core,and the retraction movement ispositively trans mitted to the core.

19. In a mold for casting concrete blocks and the like, the combinationwith the wall of the mold provided with suitable aperice tures, of amovable core for each aperture and adapted to be extended through theaperture into the mold and to be retracted therefrom, a crank shaft, aconnecting rod mechanism coupling each of said cores to the crank shaft,resilient connection between each connecting rod mechanism and itsassociated core, whereby when a core abnornially resists seating in itsproper extended position the pow-er of the crank shaft will 10 beassumed without affecting the seating of the other cores.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa, this 5th day of September, 1924.

JESSE M. BARNETT.

